Trump-Xi Beijing Summit Confirmed for May 13-15 as First US Presidential Visit to China Since 2017
Primary region US
Tags Diplomacy · Trade · Security
Regions US · China · Asia
China's Foreign Ministry confirmed on May 11 that President Donald Trump will pay a state visit to Beijing from May 13-15, the first trip by a U.S. president to China since November 2017. The summit, originally scheduled for March but postponed due to the Iran war, will cover trade tariffs, the Iran conflict, Taiwan, artificial intelligence, nuclear arms, and critical minerals. Pre-summit trade talks between Vice Premier He Lifeng and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will be held in Seoul on May 12-13. Trump is expected to push Xi to use China's influence over Iran, while Beijing seeks relief from U.S. tariffs and export controls on AI chips. China remains Iran's largest oil buyer, importing approximately 1.38 million barrels per day.
Strategic interpretation
The summit represents an attempt to stabilize the bilateral relationship amid overlapping crises — the Iran war, trade tensions, and Taiwan. China's leverage has grown due to its dominance in rare earth exports and its role as Iran's primary economic lifeline. Trump's willingness to engage Xi while simultaneously pressuring Beijing on Iran creates a complex bargaining dynamic. The summit is unlikely to resolve structural disputes but may produce a trade truce extension and establish AI communication channels.